Shopping and
eating
A product of the borough's
astounding diversity is a bewildering array of ethnic restaurants
and shops from which to choose.
Fancy Greek, Bengali or Nigerian food tonight? Then
head to Newham. Pie & Mash or Sadza & Relish, take your
pick. The range runs from cheap but authentic cafés, where you'll
eat with the locals, to docklands restaurants with stunning
waterside views. If you're looking for authentic Asian food (rather
than the usual English curries), you'll love Green Street, a
maelstrom of spice, bhangra and gold.
While Green Street offers a good mix of Pakistani and Indian
restaurants, it is perhaps more famous for its fabulous shops. Here
there are stalls selling fish you never knew existed and vegetables
and fruits whose colours alone are enough to entice you to buy.
There is an amazing range of handmade jewellery, including acres of
bangles and gold, sumptuous silks, intricate fabrics and aromatic
spices for sale. Most of it at unbeatable prices.
Of course, Newham is just 20 minutes from West End shopping and
has its own bustling high streets with all the usual stores you
would expect. It also has a few you wouldn't, including a shop
specialising in Dr Who memorabilia and another dedicated entirely
to Elvis! Perhaps best of all, are the
traditional
East End markets, where the only things more plentiful than the
banter are the bargains.